NHTSA — Steering Problems

CarComplaints.com Notes: The Pontiac Vibe is the mechanical twin of the Toyota Matrix.

Both models were a joint GM-Toyota venture, manufactured together at a NUMMI production facility in Fremont, CA. Only the heating & A/C systems are different.

7.1

pretty bad
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
8,000 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2004 Pontiac Vibe steering problems

steering problem

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2004 Pontiac Vibe Owner Comments

problem #3

Jul 082015

Vibe

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

GM recall #15406 GM keeps sending me reminder letters to have my car fixed but GM is dragging their feet on making the part to have the car fixed. Since I live in a hot humid state (ga) I would like to have the car fixed. -thx-

- Metter, GA, USA

problem #2

May 012008

Vibe

  • miles
My 18 yr son was driving our 2004 Pontiac Vibe home in rush hour bumper to bumper traffic on a curvy, mountainous, two lane road on state route 4 in (near white rock) in the los alamos nm area around 4pm. He was driving under 55 mph and as he rounded one of the curves, he was unable to keep the car on the road and it ran straight off the road(to the right), instead of turning, over heavy brush and several iron fence posts. He has always claimed the car brakes and steering stopped working. The many adult witnesses confirmed the car "suddenly veered off" for no apparent reason and the tracks indicated the car remained in a straight line the entire time. The air bag was not deployed. I had noticed the car sometimes wasn't tracking well on turns prior to this incident. The gas tank was low. The adult witnesses all commended our son on his driving ability as he avoided hitting other cars. A driver in the Hummer behind him assured us that "something must have happened with the car - not his fault -too sudden - miracle he didn't roll." The Hummer driver had been behind our son for some time. The (state farm)insurance company totaled the car. We like the Vibe and purchased a 2009 replacement. We assumed that our son's inexperience and youth were major contributors, but that something went wrong with car due to straight tire tracks and witness statements. The examination of the car found nothing wrong with the brakes and steering pump after the accident, but extensive damage underneath prevented any real analysis. My son remains accident free with this exception and has only 1 speeding ticket received this year. We hope you continue to research these type of accidents with Vibe/matrix. I have always thought something was wrong with the steering and drive the new Vibe more gently, but love getting over 30 mpg.

- Los Alamos, NM, USA

problem #1

Aug 162008

Vibe

  • 24,000 miles
2004 Pontiac Vibe original tires worn out by 24000 miles, second set had severe vibration unable to fix and worn out 38K, dealer aligned and put in shim, 3rd set tires same problem severe vibration and noise just under 50K miles. Tire shop said prob with car and suspension, keeps cupping tires.

- Kansas City, MO, USA

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